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Writer's Guidelines + Themes

subTerrain publishes original fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, essays, and commentary three times a year. Submissions must be previously unpublished material. (Note the maximum number of submissions per issue in the General Guidelines below.) Currently, we are publishing two General issues and one Themed issue per year.

subTerrain welcomes submissions from both emerging and established authors. We are happy to consider work from all corners of the identity spectrum, including works by underrepresented writers, including but not limited to writers who are Indigenous, of colour, immigrants, women, LGBTQI+, low-income, no-income, and writers with disabilities. Submitters are welcome to state demographics such as race, age, gender, etc. in their cover letter if they so choose.

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TWENTY TWENTY-FOUR ISSUES

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SPRING, #97 {GENERAL ISSUE}

This issue will be a general issue featuring fiction, poetry, commentary, and creative nonfiction.

SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 29, 2024

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SUMMER/FALL, #98, {TRASH}

Engage in some trash talk with subTerrain! Send us your best fiction, non-fiction, and poetry submissions that mine the depths of your trash — be it literal, metaphorical, metaphysical, or more. In a tech-filled world that engages in planned, rapid obsolescence while the planet burns, talk to us about the ethical quandaries of garbage. In a gentrified society with its moralistic values, how do you revel in your own feelings of being, well, trashy? Send us writing littered with the dregs of society, the lowest of the low, and remains and rabble of your brain.

Send us your best poetry, fiction, and non-fiction that dishes the truth on Trash.

SUBMISSIONS OPEN FEBRUARY 14 :: DEADLINE: MAY 15, 2024

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WINTER, #99 {GENERAL ISSUE}

This issue will be a general issue featuring fiction, poetry, commentary, and creative nonfiction, the winning entries in our 2023 Lush Triumphant Literary Awards, as well as excerpts from forthcoming releases from Canadian indie presses.

SUBMISSIONS OPEN JUNE 15 :: DEADLINE: AUGUST 15, 2024

Submit via Submittable at the "Submit online" link below. If submitting via snail mail, please identify on the envelope the issue # or theme issue for which you are submitting.

Feel free to interpret our themes in unique and unusual ways.

All other regular submission guidelines still apply, as below.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

The following are some general guidelines (as always, we suggest READING an issue of the magazine to see what we're all about).

Submissions must be previously unpublished and be:

1. typed, double-spaced on 8 1/2 x 11 paper (no disks or e-mail submissions please)

2. Fiction: a maximum of 3,000 words.
(max. 3 submissions per issue)

3. Poetry: we no longer accept unsolicited poetry submissions (unless specifically related to one of our theme issues). Poetry should be single-spaced with stanza breaks.

4. Creative Non-Fiction: a maximum of 4,000 words.
(max. 2 submissions per issue)

5. Commentary (social or otherwise): a maximum of 4000 words.
(max. 2 submissions per issue)

6. Photography & Illustration: we only accept solicited art and photography. Please forward us a link to your work;

7. Those submissions not accompanied by a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) will not be considered or returned. Submissions from outside Canada: It has come to our attention that IRCs are no longer available in the U.S. Submitters from outside Canada: please DO NOT SEND RETURN ENVELOPES WITH U.S. STAMPS -- WE CANNOT USE U.S. POSTAGE TO MAIL FROM CANADA! Please include your email address with your submission and we will respond via email.

8. Please do not send submissions via email.

Payment rates for published submissions:

Poetry: $50 per poem
Prose: $.10 per word (to a maximum of $500.)

Submit online (click) here:

Mail hard copy submissions to:

subTerrain Magazine
P.O. Box 3008, Station Terminal
Vancouver, BC V6B 3X5
CANADA
TEL: (604) 876-8009
EMAIL: [email protected]

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